So surprised at how fast it all came upon us and now.... poof.... it is over.
It has been a wonderful Christmas weekend. Lots of family time, visiting, driving.... Christmas Eve Candlelight service, Christmas ham.... more family time and visiting. The girls beating the boys in Trivial Pursuit.... ahhhh..... I LOVE Christmas.
Merry Christmas and Happy Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Ahhhhh... Christmas Preparations.
Let me just say this first..... I LOVE CHRISTMAS. I love all the lights, trees, stockings, wrapping paper, baking, cards, pageants, songs, candy...... and the beautiful trees. The radio is tuned to Christmas songs the day after Thanksgiving and as soon as the movies start on television....well.... you know.
Each year it has been getting harder and harder to do all of the things I think need to be done, much less by the time they need to be done! I know I am not alone with this problem. But last night I was reminded of when I was first married and had very little money. We were lucky if we were able to get everyone even just one present. Even as small or insignificant as the item was, I wrapped it like it was a royal jewel. I spent a long time wrapping, applying bows and ribbons..... I had fun, got creative. I always said that the wrapping was way better than the present! But over the years as our incomes have grown, so did the amount of presents. So wrapping was not a precise art anymore. The package was lucky if it got a bow at all, and was under the tree by Christmas morning!
Last night I was treated to an unexpected evening home alone. You know what that means! It was going to be quiet and for a short period of time - a few hours of uninterrupted me time. So I went into my craft room, got all the bags, bows, ribbon and boxes that I have saved from Christmases past and with some new wrapping paper - I got down to business. With Christmas music in the background and cats at my feet, I was brought back to the times early in my marriage and began to wrap each present with all the glittery goodness I could put on it. No rushing......
So this morning I came down to a tree full of fun and happy presents..... I was able to tick one more thing off my "to-do" list (with still a little less of a week to go).... but most of all - I had a moment of reliving my early Christmases.... when I was so young and full of dreams of future Christmases. Not once did it cross my mind back then, that a future Christmas would find me back in those days...... to renew my Christmas spirit.
Each year it has been getting harder and harder to do all of the things I think need to be done, much less by the time they need to be done! I know I am not alone with this problem. But last night I was reminded of when I was first married and had very little money. We were lucky if we were able to get everyone even just one present. Even as small or insignificant as the item was, I wrapped it like it was a royal jewel. I spent a long time wrapping, applying bows and ribbons..... I had fun, got creative. I always said that the wrapping was way better than the present! But over the years as our incomes have grown, so did the amount of presents. So wrapping was not a precise art anymore. The package was lucky if it got a bow at all, and was under the tree by Christmas morning!
Last night I was treated to an unexpected evening home alone. You know what that means! It was going to be quiet and for a short period of time - a few hours of uninterrupted me time. So I went into my craft room, got all the bags, bows, ribbon and boxes that I have saved from Christmases past and with some new wrapping paper - I got down to business. With Christmas music in the background and cats at my feet, I was brought back to the times early in my marriage and began to wrap each present with all the glittery goodness I could put on it. No rushing......
So this morning I came down to a tree full of fun and happy presents..... I was able to tick one more thing off my "to-do" list (with still a little less of a week to go).... but most of all - I had a moment of reliving my early Christmases.... when I was so young and full of dreams of future Christmases. Not once did it cross my mind back then, that a future Christmas would find me back in those days...... to renew my Christmas spirit.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Stress.......
Ahhhh.... that nasty word.... Stress.
It is quite sad that this little word - only five letters... can cause shallow breathing, heart racing and panic. Coupled with this time of the year. Everyone is rushing, their to do lists a mile long and not getting any shorter.
Each morning, after my prayers..... I say over and over in my head "stressfree." Actually it is working. That is not to say that I still do not have a few panic attacks during the day... but they are shorter and less panicky . I realize after the fourth breath that I will be alright. I will make it through this minor crisis and life is good.
Repeat the mantra "stressfree, stressfree, stressfree....." I do not promise perfection - but maybe a little bliss.
It is quite sad that this little word - only five letters... can cause shallow breathing, heart racing and panic. Coupled with this time of the year. Everyone is rushing, their to do lists a mile long and not getting any shorter.
Each morning, after my prayers..... I say over and over in my head "stressfree." Actually it is working. That is not to say that I still do not have a few panic attacks during the day... but they are shorter and less panicky . I realize after the fourth breath that I will be alright. I will make it through this minor crisis and life is good.
Repeat the mantra "stressfree, stressfree, stressfree....." I do not promise perfection - but maybe a little bliss.
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Beginning
It is not 2012 yet, but I am embarking on a new adventure. I have loved reading all of my favorite blogs and thought...... I wonder if I too can be as creative, inspirational, organized as my favorite bloggers??? So it is time to answer that question. Granted... this is just a post at this time. I have not taken a picture, written a tutorial or even really decided where to go with this blog - but here we go.
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